Chapter 314
On the other side of the room, Penelope noticed Anastasia’s gaze lingering on Headmaster Jerome and couldn’t help but curl her lips into a subtle, knowing smile.
Anastasia drew a deep breath, her eyes icy and resolute.
This time, things would be different. She wouldn’t disgrace her mother’s name, nor her own.
“Let’s begin,” she said firmly.
“We’ll start with five pages each. Who wants to go first?” Headmaster Jerome stood on the stage, wasting no time on pleasantries.
“I’ll go,” Penelope offered, her voice gentle and considerate. “That way, Anastasia can have a little more time to review.”
Her words set off a chorus of mocking laughter around them. Someone even praised Penelope for her magnanimity: “That’s just like our Penelope-always so kind. Even after everything Anastasia’s done, she’s still thinking of her!”
“Oh, please,” someone else scoffed. “What good is more time going to do? As if Anastasia could actually memorize anything in the first place
Headmaster Jerome, of course, heard it all. She glanced at Anastasia, her expression tightening with annoyance.
If she didn’t have her mother’s talent, she should learn to keep a low profile instead of constantly drawing attention to herself. Did she want everyone to know Cecilia’s daughter was a disappointment?
But in the midst of all the mockery and hostile stares, Anastasia remained composed. Not a single muscle in her brow twitched.
“Penelope, you may begin,” Headmaster Jerome announced.
Penelope smiled politely, stepped forward, and began reciting. Her voice was calm and steady, not a hint of hesitation. Some students followed along on their tablets, checking the text line by line, and were soon whispering in awe, “Penelope really did memorize the whole thing-she’s flawless!”
Before long, Penelope had finished her five pages. She stopped and looked demurely at Headmaster Jerome. “Headmaster, did I get everything right?”
Jerome’s expression softened, and she nodded. “Well done.”
Applause broke out across the room. Whatever people thought of Penelope as a person, there was no denying her skill.
Penelope’s lips curved a little higher, her posture poised and self-assured. She turned to face Anastasia. “Your turn, Anastasia.”
At once, every eye in the room shifted to Anastasia. Shirley and her friends were already smirking, clearly relishing the prospect of seeing her fail.
As Anastasia stepped forward, Headmaster Jerome’s fleeting approval vanished, replaced by a stern impatience. “Anastasia, you may begin.”
Unfazed, Anastasia took a step forward and started reciting. Her voice was light and clear, her delivery smooth and confident-faster even than Penelope’s. The students who had been waiting for her to stumble were momentarily stunned. Ná´‡w novel chapters are publɪshed on.net
But then someone muttered, “It’s only the beginning. She had three days- anyone could memorize a page or two. The real test comes later. Just wait-she’ll trip up soon enough.”
Others nodded in agreement, convinced she’d falter before the end.
But it didn’t happen. Anastasia kept right on, her pace unwavering, her memory flawless from start to finish. No hesitations, no slips-not even at the end.
“Headmaster, I’m finished,” she said calmly to Jerome.
A cheer erupted from Anastasia’s classmates. “I knew she could do it!” someone shouted, nearly jumping out of their chair. Juliet, watching her cousin’s back, brimmed with pride.
In stark contrast, Shirley and her friends looked as if they’d swallowed something
sour.
-Hadn’t they all said Anastasia didn’t have it in her?